My C19 Chippendale Edison Diamond Disc Phonograph:
A Brief History and Restoration PhotosBack to Home

Richard D. Densmore

Thomas Edison invented the phonograph in 1877. His first machine used grooved cylinders
wrapped in tin foil, into which sound waves were etched. It wasn't until the
1890's that the first commercial recordings were available, wax cylinders
issued by Edison and some other manufacturers, and the first disc recordings by
the Berliner Company (a forerunner of Victor). Edison was a proponent of
cylinder technology because of the uniform groove speed of cylinders. He also
preferred his vertical (hill and dale) method of cutting the grooves as opposed
to the lateral method used by Victor and most other companies. With the
vertical method grooves were narrower and could be spaced more closely
together, permitting longer recordings on a given surface area.

In spite of continuous improvement to his machines and cylinders, by 1910 Edison was the
only major company still issuing cylinder recordings, and sales were falling.
His competitors' disc records were less expensive to manufacture, they could be
recorded on both sides (more music for your money), and were easier to store.
Behind Mr. Edison's back, his engineers began work on a disc machine and
records. Edison soon became enthusiastic. Two and a half years and three
million dollars later, the Edison Diamond Disc phonograph was born. Introduced
late in 1912, this machine was arguably the finest acoustic phonograph
developed up to that time.

The Edison Diamond Disc phonograph used a specially designed reproducer with a diamond stylus and a
laminated rice paper diaphragm. The Edison disc player used a gear mechanism to
advance the reproducer across the record, rather than forcing the record
grooves to bear the weight of pulling the reproducer. This resulted in very
little wear to the records, and reduced surface noise. The records were 10 inch
diameter, quarter inch thick, vertical cut discs designed to play at 80rpm.
These discs held up to five minutes of recorded sound on each side as compared
to 3 minutes for the 78rpm records of other companies.

Edison disc records and phonographs were not compatible with other manufacturers' products.
This eventually limited the company's ability to compete. In terms of the
quality of sound reproduction, however, the Edison disc technology was far
superior to that of other manufacturers, as the company demonstrated repeatedly
through a series of public tone tests.

All recording during this time (1877- mid 1920's) was by the acoustical method. Singers or
instrumentalists stood before a recording horn, which focused the sound waves
to a recording diaphragm, connected to a stylus which cut the master wax disc.
Edison was the acknowledged master of the art of acoustical recording.

The Diamond Disc phonograph was offered in a variety of models from late 1912 to 1927, and the records were sold until October 1929,
when the company closed its doors, just days before the stock market crash. See
my article Pipe
Organ Artists and Recordings on the Edison Label for additional information
on Edison phonographs and records.

In the year 1919 my Great Uncle,
Mr. Leon Densmore of Perry, Ohio, purchased a brand new Model C19 (Chippendale) Edison Diamond Disc
Phonograph, which was an upgrade of the earlier C-250 model. It cost $295, a
substantial sum for that time. The C19 model had just been introduced that year
and was known as "the Official Laboratory Model." This phonograph,
quite deluxe for its time, featured in addition to the diamond stylus, a
variable speed turntable, a volume control mechanism, a double spring motor, a
15" internal horn, and a cabinet to hold 72 records. During the next
several years the Densmore family acquired a sizable collection of ten-inch
Edison "Re-Creations". This collection included popular songs,
fox-trots, waltzes, marches, character monologues, and other recordings which
reflected the popular tastes of the time.

Leon Densmore moved to California in
1925, a trip that took him one month in a Model-T Ford. He necessarily left the
Edison phonograph behind, and it remained in the Densmore family home for the
next 52 years.

My first experiences with "the Edison" came in
the late 1950's (I was about five years old). My grandparents (Kenneth and
Margaretta) and my Great Grandfather (Lester, the father of Leon and Kenneth)
were living in the family home. Often when I visited them Great Grandpa would
escort me to the room at the top of the stairs, which was then used for
storage. He would raise the creaky lid of the Edison, wind it up, and play a
few of his favorite records. I think he only had a few favorites (Margie, and
Uncle Josh).

In 1961 my parents purchased the family home from my
grandparents, and I became the proud owner of the Edison (I was the only member
of the family willing to have it in my room). I grew up with the Edison, and it
became my most prized possession. It gave me many hours of relaxation and
happiness.

In 1977, I established my own residence and took the
Edison with me. I began compiling a discography of my original collection of
Edison Diamond Disc records. This became a complete listing for each record,
with words to spoken and sung recordings, and indexes by title, performer, and
composer/lyricist/author. This discography has gone into a second revised
edition, plus a supplement to cover the other Edison discs that I have acquired
in recent years.

In 1999, while doing additional reading on the Edison
disc phonograph, I first became aware that in the 1920's, the Edison company
began to issue recordings of (theatre) pipe organ music. As I am a church
organist, this greatly intrigued me. I began to research the history of the
organ records issued by the Edison company and also to collect these records.
The results of my research can be read (see link to my organ record article
above). This article has been published in the Spring 2001 issue of ARSC Journal
(Association for Recorded Sound Collections). I own all 35 organ records that were issued by the Edison
company: 34 diamond discs, plus the only Needle Type Electric (78rpm) organ record issued.

Today my Edison Diamond Disc phonograph is newly restored. See
the Restoration section below. This wonderfully built machine still provides regular entertainment and enjoyment
for the Densmore family.

(Note: the above pictures were all taken in the late 1970's when both the Edison and I were
almost thirty years younger. The Edison now looks better than ever. I only look older!)

RESTORATION OF MY EDISON C19 (CHIPPENDALE)

DIAMOND DISC PHONOGRAPH

(OFFICIAL LABORATORY MODEL)

In May of 2001 I decided to have my original Edison phonograph
completely and professionally restored. Mr. Bob Laboda, of Hinckley, Ohio, had previously
restored the reproducer, installing a new diamond stylus, as well as a new
diaphragm and gaskets. Mr. Laboda cleaned, inspected, and re-calibrated
the motor, mainsprings and mechanism. At the same time Mr. Duane Moses, owner
of Family Furniture Refinishing of Strongsville, Ohio, completely restored
and refinished the Edison cabinet, hand-stripped it, and used custom stains
and high quality lacquers. From Mr. Wayne Holznagel of Mitchell, South Dakota I
was able to acquire some missing brass pieces as well as some missing wood trim
pieces which were incorporated into the restoration and made the Edison
complete and original. Below are "before" pictures taken a few days before I
delivered the Edison to be restored.

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The restoration process took four months and was completed in September of 2001.
Below are pictures of my restored Edison. These pictures do not do justice to the beauty of the cabinet and the work done by Mr. Moses. Needless to say I am exceptionally pleased with how the Edison looks and plays.